Check out the EuroLeague players who shined in FIBA play on Monday night (PHOTO: FIBA)
Continental Qualifiers roundup: Dramatic victory for France; Hezonja, Shorts, Jantunen shine in wins
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EuroBasket Qualifiers 2025
Cyprus 67-104 Croatia
Real Madrid forward Mario Hezonja warmed up for Thursday's Clásico in style by posting 40 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in a dominant victory for Croatia. Hezonja's nation was already eliminated from contention for EuroBasket 2025, but his forceful performance – in which he played 35:20 minutes – ends Croatia's qualification campaign on a high.
North Macedonia 88-74 Poland
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's Neno Dimitrijevic and Paris Basketball's TJ Shorts combined for 34 points and 12 assists as North Macedonia grabbed its second win in EuroBasket 2025 qualification, but the nation – as was also the case with Poland – was already eliminated coming into this game. Shorts finished with 23 points, 5 assists and 1 steal, while Dimitrijevic posted 11 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal.
Lithuania 82-75 Estonia
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's Sander Raieste played nine minutes in Estonia's defeat.
Israel 84-74 Slovenia
Israel finished top of Group A with a 5-1 record by usurping Slovenia on Monday night, with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's Rafi Menco scoring 15 points, the second most of any Israeli player. He also added 2 rebounds.
Denmark 77-83 Finland
Paris big man Mikael Jantunen had an important role in Finland's victory by helping his team in a number of areas, posting 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Denmark pair Iffe Lundberg of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Shavon Shields of Milan were two of their team's four double-digit scorers, netting 19 and 11 points, respectively. They also combined for 13 rebounds and 8 assists. Finland already knew it would be at EuroBasket 2025 courtesy of being one of the hosts, while Denmark had already been eliminated heading into this game.
Serbia 63-54 Georgia
Partizan trio Balsa Koprivica, Arijan Lakic and Mario Nakic had telling contributions for Serbia, contributing a combined 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in the victory. Serbia's triumph means it finishes its group-stage campaign with a perfect 6-0 record.
Greece 63-53 Netherlands
Olympiacos Piraeus guard Giannoulis Larentzakis led the way for Greece as his nation secured a first-place finish in Group F, pouring in a team-high and joint game-high 14 points. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens duo Ioannis Papapetrou and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis contributed 9 and 5 points, respectively.
France 76-74 Bosnia
Seven Turkish Airlines EuroLeague players – Isaia Cordinier, Petr Cornelie, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Theo Maledon, Elie Okobo, Neal Sako and Matthew Strazel – were in action for France as it narrowly defeated a Bosnia team without Dzanan Musa on Monday night. France trailed 51-57 at the end of the third quarter and 65-70 with 4 minutes to play, but a 9-0 run gave it a 74-70 edge. Bosnia managed to tie the game at 74-74, but Okobo's game-winning pull-up jumper gave France the victory. Monaco's Strazel was France's joint top scorer with 15 points, level with Yoan Makoundou, a Monaco player on loan at Turk Telekom Ankara. Okobo and Luwawu-Cabarrot also finished in double digits in scoring with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
AmeriCup Qualifiers 2025
Mexico vs. Canada (02:00 CET)
EuroLeague players in action: Isiaha Mike